Monday's Mourning Ministry - Are You Afraid to Die? ~The Isaacs

Monday's Mourning Ministry

Are You Afraid to Die?

~The Isaacs

For several weeks I played this album of The Isaacs who are from up the road from us about an hour from Knoxville, though now most of them live in Nashville where they routinely travel and frequently appear on Bill Gaither's Homecoming productions. We didn't even know about them until we attended a Gather concert here in Knoxville, and there they were, our "neighbors," world-famous yet unknown to us. Since then, I have fallen in love with their amazing harmonies, musical talents and hand-written songs. It is so rare to hear a family singing together these days, and I just love them!

The irony of this particular album is that while I was playing it over and over from my room which is right across the hall from Merry Katherine's room, I am sure she heard the songs over and over and over. Little did we know she indeed would be about to die. Did God know something we didn't when I chose to play those songs? It made me wonder, in retrospect. It is my prayer that these songs were some of the many tools God used to prepare my baby's heart to meet Him...

Are You Afraid to Die?

~The Isaacs

Are you a stranger to God,

Carried away with your pride?

Tell me sinner

Do you ever stop and think,

Are you afraid to die?

Are you afraid?

Are you unsaved?

Are you afraid to die?

Call on Him while he is near -

Moments are swift passing by.

Will you seek Him

While He still may be found?

Are you afraid to die?

Are you afraid?

Are you unsaved?

Are you afraid to die?

Are you too wicked to cry?

Would you to God's bosom fly?

Soon He's comin'

Like a thief in the night -

Are you afraid to die?

Are you afraid?

Are you unsaved?

Are you afraid to die?

Are you afraid?

Are you unsaved?

Are you afraid to die?

Music from You Tube

Album: The Isaacs, Songs of the Faith

Monday’s Mourning Ministry - Go Rest High

"The Piercing Light Of His Love Defeats

The Darkness & Despair Of Loss"

~Danielle Helms

Monday’s Mourning Ministry

Searching the Bible on Behalf of us Bereaved Parents as we Grieve Our Great Loss…

"(God) has sent (Jesus) to bind up the brokenhearted . . . to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve (in His family)--to bestow on (us) a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. (We) will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."

Isaiah 61:1b,2b,3

“Go Rest High”

Written by Vince Gill for his brother's funeral

Sung by Vince Gill/Sonya Isaacs/Becca Isaacs

Go Rest High!

And for those who have gone on to Heaven before us:

"The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away." Isaiah 51:11

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Vince Gill's song captures Merry Katherine’s life at the time she was killed. She so loved her Lord, yet she was fully engulfed in a spiritual battle for her soul. Vince just captures it:

She loved to belt out songs to God in her bedroom; her love for God was real . . . is real. Her precocious nature was real also: “You weren’t afraid to face the devil . . .” “You were no stranger to the rain” “I know your life . . . on earth . . . was troubled” “Only you could know the pain . . .”

And her spirit was so tender, so loving, so in love with the very God with whom she struggled: “Wish I could see the angels faces when they hear your sweet voice sing . . .” “Go to Heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son!”

So sweet Merry Katherine,

“Go rest high on that mountain; baby, your work on earth is done. Go to Heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son! Yes, go to Heaven a-shoutin’ love for the Father and the Son!”

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The Isaacs sing with Vince on this video; their own music is a favorite of mine to hear. Merry Katherine would also hear their songs playing in my room as I listened to them almost constantly during those tumultuous days of praying for, pulling for, my baby girl in her struggle.

They just did a concert at the Tennessee Theatre last weekend to benefit Alzheimers suffererers (the very day I fell and broke my pelvis). They are from a town just about 50 miles north of us.

As a family, the Isaacs have had their own struggles of loss that have breathed life into their outcries to God through song. In other words, they “get it”! We have gotten to know them and love each one of them; we are so very thankful for them and their ministry to our hearts . . . to our broken hearts.

With special thanks to

The Isaacs: Sonya, Lily, Rebbecca, and Ben

http://isaacsinsiders.blogspot.com/

All Scripture in New International Version

http://twitpic.com/ebsxy Picture by Danielle Helms, friend and grieving mom

http://twitpic.com/e86lz Picture by Danielle Helms, friend and grieving mom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV_xFOdgfJI&feature=related

http://isaacsinsiders.blogspot.com/